Sail track



A. s. JETTER sAiL TRACK June 21, 1955 Filed Aug. 10, 1953 INVENTOR.

United States Patent This invention relates to sail boats and is moreparticularly concerned with a device for the slidable securing of sailsto the mast and the boom.

In sail boats the mast and the boom are generally equipped with tracksfastened longitudinally to the surface of the spars, which tracksslidably engage fittings secured to the edges of the sails. In otherforms, longitudinal slots are machined in the spars as an integral part,which slidably engage the bolt rope along the edges of the sail. Suchdevices enable the raising or lowering of the sail and boom, and at thesame time allow some movement of the sail relative to the mast. Thesetypes of construction have certain disadvantages, however, since theexternal track may become clogged with paint or varnish and necessitatesthe fastening of numerous clips to the edges of the sail. into the sparis also a costly operation, and once it is cut into the spar, must bekept clean to prevent clogging. Also such a slot has a tendency to raisesplinters which clog or prevent facile raising or lowering of the sailor boom.

With these objections in mind, I have invented a device which overcomesthese problems. The device of my invention comprises a pre-formedslotted track, which can be attached to any spar quickly and easily,which aflords easy operations, and which eliminates the necessity ofattaching numerous fittings to the sail. The device of my invention ispractical and economical, both in manufacture, attachment and use.

In the drawing:

The embodiment of one form of my invention is shown, in which Figure 1is a fragmentary side-elevational view of a sail boat mast showing thetrack attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a fragment of the mastand track on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of the track and masts,showing the track as attached to masts of difierent shapes.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, numeral 10 represents themast of a sail boat, to which the track 11 is attached by screws 12 orother conventional means of attachment. The track 11 as shown is in theform of a vertical member having flanges 13, which slidably embrace theleading edge 14 of the sail 15. Said leading edge 14 may be a rope or aconjunct of ropes covered by the fabric of the sail 15, as shown inFigure 3. The flanges 13 hold the leading edge of the sail in positionnext to the mast, but at the same time allow the edge to be raised orlowered, and also allows for lateral movement of the sail in relation tothe mast. The track is provided with flanges 13, as shown in Figure 3,which slidably embrace the bolt-rope 14 to hold the sail in Themachining of the slot 2,711,149 Patented June 21, 1955 position, andwhich are preferably of a relatively soft material such as plastic, woodor soft metal. These flanges are rounded at the edges and on theexterior of the track, where contact with the sail is made. The trackitself is substantially triangular in form as shown in Figure '3, toconform with the shape of the spar or mast 10.

A metallic reinforcing frame 13A is provided on the outer surface of thetrack, to reinforce the flanges 13 and the track itself, and to providereinforcement in attaching the track to the spar. The frame 13A ispreferably of steel or brass of sufficient thickness to hold theembracing flanges 13 rigid, and is embedded into the outer surface oftrack to provide a smooth outer surface of the track, where the sailmight contact the track, or v where the track is in contact with thespar to which attached. With the combination of the softer material ofthe flanges, and the rigid reinforcing frame 13A, the sail trackpresents a smooth surface in contact with the sail, and at the same timea strong rigid member which is adapted to be secured to a mast or spar.At the lower portion of the mast 10, the track 11 may be cut away asshown in Figure l at 16, in order that when the sail is lowered, theleading edge may fall out of the track and become free for furling orother handling.

The track of this invention may be attached to masts of all types,whether new or under construction, or used, and as shown in Figures 4, 5and 6, the track will fit masts of all ordinary shapes or forms.

It is obvious that the track may be manufactured by machining, rollingor extruding of such different suitable materials such as plastic, metaland the like, and that such track may be of different sizes and shapes,depending upon the requirements.

The new pro-formed slot of my invention will afford a smooth, snag-freeinner and outer surface for the sail and bolt rope. It will eliminatethe jamming of the'bolt rope caused by the swelling of wooden slottedmasts or booms, and will also eliminate the necessity of constantvarnishing and care as on the conventional wooden construction. It willafford a complete and separate unit that does not have to be machined asa more costly integral part of wood or metal spars. The pre-formed slotof my invention is easily attached or detached, and

- may be attached to new or old spars. Furthermore, the

slot of my invention is economical to manufacture and assemble on eithernew boats, or old boats, and it obviates many parts heretofore needed insecuring the edge of a sail to a spar.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A slotted sail track comprising a substantially triangular shaped memberof relatively soft material embedded in a rigid metallic reinforcingouter frame, having a web adapted for attachment along a spar, saidtrack having rounded flanges extending therefrom in opposed relationforming an inwardly enlarged slot for receiving an enlarged sail edge,and a relatively narrow opening between the flanges for accommodatingthe sail while preventing egress of the enlarged edge of said sail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,107,303 Ljungstrom Feb. 8, 193

FOREIGN PATENTS 371,790 Germany Mar. 22, 1923 787,237 France. July 1,1935 972,503 France Aug. 30, 1950

